The Mets should steer clear of Tulowitzki and CarGo

With hopes of any postseason chances dwindling as the season rolls down, Mets fans justifiably start to think of improvements for next season. While it’s unlikely the Mets will do anything before the non-waiver deadline this season, there is a very good chance a trade will be made to upgrade the roster in the offseason. The availability of quality free agent position players will be scarce, so a trade is the most viable route for the Mets front office if they want to maximize the potential of an upgrade. The names that have been popping up lately throughout the halls of Mets Nation have been Rockies’ stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. Ideally, talents like that should be unavailable or unattainable, but the Rockies desperation for quality starting pitching and their continued presence at the bottom of the standings has started rumblings from Denver to New York. Well, after recent occurrences, the Mets should muffle any rumblings quick.

Within a span of 48 hours this past week, the Rockies announced that both Tulowitzki and Gonzalez will miss the remainder of the season due to injuries. Tulowitzki will undergo hip surgery today, and Gonzalez will shut it down completely as a result of knee tendonitis which has worsened as the season progressed. Undoubtedly a blow to Rockies on the field, but also damaging to their most prized possessions’ trade value. Of course, injuries are nothing new to these two young stars.

Tulowitzki in his nine year career has only had three seasons in which he’s reached the 130 games played plateau. For a star of his caliber, you would like to see him play in at least 150 games per year, but his durability has been an issue. This year in 91 games, he has a slash line of .340/.432/.603, all stats that lead the NL. Defensively, he’s only made four errors and consistently shows off his range and strong arm on a daily basis. He is truly one of the best in the game, but the injuries are a concern, especially this last one.

Gonzalez is not what you would call an “Ironman” either. The young, gold glove caliber outfielder has missed considerable time the past few seasons with wrist and finger injuries and now with his knee. The Rockies trainer said they will consider options regarding the injury including platelet-rich plasma therapy, stem-cell therapy and surgery. He’s already missed 70 games earlier in the season due to an inflamed index finger which involved a tumor being removed. So despite having one of the best swings in baseball, his body continues to lack the durability to keep him on the field.

So do the Mets trade for one of these stars despite their injury history? If it means giving up 4 or 5 talented players, than they should pass. Obviously, recovery from these injuries make any trade moot until the Mets can assess they are capable of actually performing. Outside of the immediate injury concerns, their history for DL stints is not something this team needs to get involved in.

Tulowitzki would instantly become the Mets best player and elevate their win total, but also be a twinge or pull away from missing considerable time, if his injury trend continues. Usually, aging is not a supporting factor for a change in durability, but that’s what needs to be considered. Ohh… and he’s also owed $114 million dollars for the next six years. The contract may have been a deterrent if he was healthy every season.

Gonzalez, on the other hand, would demand a lesser package to obtain his services. The return would probably involve a few of the aforementioned prospects or current Mets players, but with less demand, in the other sense of the word. While his talent is unquestionable, the Rockies frustration with his frequent number of DL stints would seemingly cut ties with him with less arm twisting.

Of course, this is all conjecture. There are no reports of trade talks or deals on the table, just scouts scouting, writers writing, and fans rumbling. The Mets may be moving in the right direction, and they need a few more pieces to enable them to have sustainable success. The moves they’ve made the past few years have been calculated and thought out and the fans have begun to see the fruits of those transactions. Before they land their next talent to punch into their roster, it would serve them well if there isn’t a little red cross next to their name.

Share this:

Post navigation

15 comments for “The Mets should steer clear of Tulowitzki and CarGo”

Joe Gomes

August 15, 2014 at 4:48 pm

For a team that used to complain about how long Reyes and Beltran were out with injuries, it makes no sense what so ever to even think about a trade for either Tulo or Cargo. Isn’t the surgery that Tulo either had or will have the same that Delgado had and never came back from?

Cargo has knees problems just like Beltran..

The Mets should be thinking about players like Baez or Russell. Difference type players because the prospects that will be asked for could be difference type players too.

The Mets having a bright future is based on making smart decisions and having them pay off. Neither one of these guys should be traded for because of the injury risk. The philosophy has been to obtain/grow young, under control, high ceiling players. This should continue. Starlin Castro should be a target.

The Rockies would be selling low and have to eat a portion of either players contracy before the Mets would venture as to what it would take for the trade to be pulled off. maybe the FO will do like the Dodgers and Red Soxs did a couple of seasons ago?CarGo is due 54.2 million for the next 3 seasons while Tuts is due 100 million over 5. If I were GM I’d trade for both but solving the Mets need at SS and LF. Yes its a risk but then again waiting for young players to develop into major leaguers is just as much a gamble.How long will it take for MDD, Kirk,Puello to develop? if the Mets assumed both contracts how about Flores, Mejia, Puello, Dilson?, Plawecki, Gee or Niese and 1 young pitcher

People have to stop thinking 40 home run hitters. They either aren’t available or cost too much in prospects to trade for. Go after an Osuna or Kole Calhoun for the outfield that won’t cost nearly so much, but can be solid additions. Might have to get a prospect at SS if Castro is not available for a decent price. Not sure about his “clubhouse presence” either.

As I recall, the Mets had a first baseman who hit 4 homers in his first 4 games in the majors.Reached 32 once with Marlins. Not sure but it might have been Jacobs. Only time over 20.Anyway, 4 is a long way from 40, especially when the kid hasn’t been around the league even once. Plus, he’s playing in a hitter friendly park in Chicago.

Cargo hasn’t hit much away from Coors Field, and Citi is about the exact opposite of Coors. Tulo, as great as he is, just can’t stay healthy. I say trade for anybody if the price is right, but I imagine the Rockies will want far more than market value for either (rumor has it they got multiple calls at the deadline, but made zero deals because they wanted way too much for everyone on their roster). I say pass on both…

If the Mets somehow were willing to absorb both contracts, which is highly unlikely, then we could get away with not parting with our entire farm system to get them both. You’d still be losing the top crop though, and who knows what will happen with either player over the next 3-6 years. Too rich for my blood, I’d walk. But I’m not a GM.